Chewbacca - TVC - Basic (VC141)

Name: ChewbaccaCollection: The Vintage CollectionNumber: VC141Source: A New HopeAvailability: May 2019License: Hasbro

Celebrate the legacy of Star Wars, the action-and-adventure-packed space saga from a galaxy far, far away, with this collection of premium, highly-detailed 3.75-inch scale figures and vehicles. (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.)

As exciting as it was to receive 2004’s The Original Trilogy CollectionChewbacca Vintage figure, fans still felt a little slighted by Hasbro that they didn’t focus on an A New Hope version of Chewbacca instead. Then when the first run of The Vintage Collection ran its course from 2010 through 2013, collectors became a little outraged that Hasbro still didn’t give us a much-needed version of Chewbacca from Episode IV. Hasbro listened to our moaning about this for years and finally took action to resolve this long-running travesty. Chewbacca is now officially part of The Vintage Collection, and Hasbro replicated the “STAR WARS” card back imaged from the original 1978 figure. Taking 2015’s TBS [P2] Chewbacca (#11) figure and tweaking it here and there, Chewbacca looks great inside of the package, but once removed you'll find that the figure's paint operations are a bit too dark. Thanks to a mostly-faithful recreation of the original vintage Kenner action figure, collectors will not think twice to pick up this figure. And while we should be thankful that this version of Chewbacca came to pass, we’re ironically at a new crossroads with the figure. The sculpt itself is aging a bit, and collectors are now hankering for all-new tooling at this point. For the meantime, however, let us focus on this unacceptably delayed figure for The Vintage Collection. No matter your thoughts about the figure inside of the bubble, it’s a comforting feeling to check out another 12-Back release in the modern line now. Chewbacca may not currently meet “definitive” status by today’s standards, but the action figure holds up well despite its setbacks and will undoubtedly be a welcomed release into many collectors’ homes. Regardless, most collectors are buying this figure to finally add a “12-Back” version of Chewbacca into their modern collections. And for that reason alone we’re thrilled to see Hasbro oblige collectors in this regard.

It shocked many of us when Hasbro released this Chewbacca sculpt into The Black Series [Phase II] line. It gave us a new definitive modern update to 1978’s vintage Kenner Star Wars Chewbacca. At the same time, we were disappointed the figure didn’t come in vintage Kenner-inspired packaging. Chewbacca utilizes the same sculpt as The Black Series [Phase II] figure, but comes with a revitalized paint job which strays away from the screen-accuracy of the first version. We find the new deco updates nice, but slightly inaccurate. The body Of Chewbacca is from the overused 2004 VOTC Chewbacca figure, but the head sculpt was new at the time of the 2015 release, and it was evident that it utilized the same digital files as The Black Series [Phase II] 6” Chewbacca (#04) figure. The head sculpt looks better in a smaller than larger scale thus making this the best Chewbacca action figure based on A New Hope. Still, Chewbacca is without his ceremonial medal once again, and we find the omission of it egregious. That would have put another modern spin on this release and would have been a gentle nod to collectors that Hasbro is listening to us once again. Hasbro should come with more accessories than he does. Getting the same old bowcaster time and again is boring, and collectors would appreciate Hasbro’s fresh ideas in this area. You’ll immediately notice that Chewbacca is lighter than most previously released versions utilizing the 2004 VOTC Chewbacca sculpt. But the new deco enhancements added here perfect the look of the character beautifully. Chewbacca looks less weighted down, lighter and brighter, yet retains the darker blotchy patches of his fur throughout his coat. And the figure still possess the incomparable and confident Wookiee stature from regardless.

We love the open mouth roar expression of the head sculpt. You obviously cannot hear sounds emanating from his mouth, but it looks realistic. Other versions of Chewbacca with his mouth closed don’t always look right, and this version looks like a miniature replica of the head sculpt from 2014’s TBS [P2] Chewbacca (#04) figure. And that expression is perfect for The Vintage Collection release. So, with so much praise given to this figure, what enhancements would make it better? Well, our wish is that figure should include ball-jointed hips. Ball-jointed and ball-socket hip articulation does wonders for figures, and it would make posing Chewbacca easier and more lifelike in our displays. The way the legs are now, it is difficult to pose Chewbacca in a ton of unique action poses. The flat-planed movement of the current hips are unforgiving, and his legs are positioned too close together, and they interfere with each other in negative ways. It is possible to get some great action-oriented poses with Chewbacca, but the options aren’t limitless which is something we like to see available with all action figures. There are some other things that Hasbro has put in place here that work well, whether or not they were intentional. For example, his satchel is cast from a much softer plastic. While not good in the case of accessories, a softer satchel does a world of good for Chewbacca. It bends when you pose the figure and doesn’t inhibit the full range of movement you’re trying to achieve. The bowcaster is a bit of letdown with this release. Hasbro cast it in a light gray plastic, and it has no paint operations at all. The best thing about this release is the packaging, and despite the horrid shape and fort of the "name pill," we’re thrilled to see this figure final available.

Collector Notes

Chewbacca

Status: Chewbacca is a repaint of 2015's TBS [P2] Chewbacca (#11) figure.
It confounds collectors that it took Hasbro 15 years to get a modern update of Chewbacca on a Star Wars vintage Kenner-styled card back.